This is the month of Kislev. The temperatures in the land of Israel have begun to drop. Daylight hours dwindle away and the long, dark nights of Kislev begin. One cannot help but naturally feel slightly melancholy and glum during the winter seasons. Thankfully, God has given us many reasons to rejoice during this season. On the 25th of Kislev, the anniversary of the rededication of the Temple is celebrated for eight days. This festival is customarily known as Hanukkah. For thousands of years, the Jewish people have remembered the miracles God performed for the Maccabees. They were not only...

Kislev is the ninth month of biblical calendar year. The name "Kislev" is the Babylonian name of the month. In the Bible, it is referred to as both "the ninth month" and "Kislev" as in Zechariah 7:1, "the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Kislev" (NIV). Among other historical events that occurred during Kislev, none is perhaps more well known than the Festival of Hanukkah, an eight day festival which begins on Kislev 25. "Hanukkah" is a word that means "dedication," for it was during these days that the...